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Lowering the cost of healthcare and extending care to those in need has long been a societal goal. The proliferation of mobile devices in every corner of the planet could be the catalyst that is needed to bring this dream to reality.

As smartphones have advanced, medical diagnostic devices and accessories have been developed to pair and provide mobile alternatives for use by doctors in the field. In areas where tools such as microscopes are not readily available, these attachments provide the functionality needed to perform necessary laboratory work. This has been especially beneficial for doctors visiting remote disaster relief areas where hospitals are either overcrowded or not able to operate. Doctors are now able to provide point-of-care testing and quickly diagnose so treatment can begin as soon as possible.

The hardware and accessories being developed to enable the diagnosis of medical issues using smartphones have two main principles: low cost and phone agnosticism. One of the best examples of both is a microscope that costs less than $1 to produce and can clip onto almost any smartphone.

Here are some example accessories and devices that have brought complex medical analysis to consumers and doctors alike:

mHealth, or mobile health, is “the use of mobile and wireless devices to improve health outcomes, healthcare services and health research.” The field is poised to grow significantly in the next few years, especially since mobile devices are becoming faster and more efficient than ever. It’s worth looking into, especially if you’re interested in the ways in which mobile technology and healthcare are going to working together in the future. Read More